There are over 30 Names of God in the Bible. Some of the more popular ones are:

• EL, ELOAH – mighty, strong, and prominent
• ELOHIM – Creator, mighty, and strong
• EL SHADDAI – God almighty, the Mighty One of Jacob
• ADONAI – Lord and Master
• YHWH, YAHWEH, JEHOVAH – LORD, I am Who I am
• YAHWEH-JIREH – The Lord will provide
• YAHWEH-RAPHA – The Lord who heals
• YAHWEH-NISSI – The Lord our banner
• YAHWEH-M’KADDESH – The Lord who sacrifices
• YAHWEH-SHALOM – The Lord of our peace
• YAHWEH-ELOHIM – Lord God

And then there are the more common terms (i.e. English) such as “Father”, which is first seen in Deuteronomy 32:6 and Isaiah 63:16 and Malachi, Jeremiah, Proverbs and Hosea.

In the New Testament, the term “Father” is used frequently, as is Immanuel, Abba, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, among others.

However, “Dad,” much less “Daddy” will not be found on the exhaustive list of the names of God. Since the Lord consistently refers to us as His “children,” is it disrespectful to use these familiar terms, even in prayer? On one hand, God (Jesus) desires that we are to be intimate with Him, however, He is holy and, as such, there is a degree of reverence and respect He should be afforded as the Creator of the universe.

If your father was the president of the United States, would you call him “Mr. President” or would you have a more familial name like Dad or Pop? If you were under the age of seven, would you be even more childlike and use terms like Daddy and Papa?

In the Scriptures Jesus said …

Matthew 19:14 - “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

As Biblical Christians, is God (Jesus) looking for a formal relationship with us? Perhaps yes when we are estranged from Him due to our sin, similar to a child who has done wrong and responds to his/her father more formally. However, the Lord’s desire is an intimate relationship with mankind to such a degree that we acknowledge we are not peers, but young children, safe in His arms. The world, and especially the secular world, may not be ready or willing to accept that level of submissive affection, so our use of “Daddy” should be limited to our prayer closet. But … our goal in expressing a returned love for Him should flow from a level of closeness where “Daddy” should not be uncomfortable.

POSTSCRIPT: After talking about this to our Bible study group, I have come away with the opinion that perhaps, even in our “prayer closet” the word “Daddy” can be inappropriate. There is no question that the Lord wants us to come to Him with childlike faith. However, as was said by someone in our group, “childlike is not the same as childish”. Interestingly another mentioned that Dr. Jeremiah did a devotional yesterday on the subject of honoring God in our words and prayers. Point being, the use of the term Daddy, even in solitude, may not be honoring of the position of authority and respect He has the right to demand in our lives. Again, it is for each of us to draw close to the Lord in our own, unique way so I am just offering a principle not an absolute in the use of the term.